Friday, October 28, 2016

I
have good news and bad news. The bad news is there is no good news. This film
is a prime example that you cannot trust trailers that are shown for
promotional purposes. It begins with a house explosion that while spectacular
is nothing more than a tease. Granted this is not billed as an action film, but
the fact that there were a few wild scenes peppered in left me wondering why director
Greg Mottola was expanding his horizons from directing and producing TV movies
and series. Clearly it was a mistake.

When
a suburban couple becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot they
discover that their seemingly perfect new neighbors are government spies. While
I did find the premise interesting to a point, I felt the presentation lacked
in believability. Sudden scene changes left me feeling dizzy and unable to
follow. Writer/producer Michael LeSieur form the TV Series Glory Days appears to lose focus on where the plot should go and
when. What you end up with is scenes that are placed almost randomly.

Zach
Galifianakis plays Jeff Gaffney, a very ordinary non-achieving husband loved by
his understanding and but mundane wife Karen played by Isla Fisher (The Brothers Grimsby). The chemistry
that ensues was obviously born by a mad scientist, as the banter seems to be
thrown together like a puzzle where the pieces don’t fit. I blame this on the
casting of Galifianakis. His memorable humor displayed in (Hangover 1 and 2) was too much for this caliber of film. I found it
awkward here.

If
there was any positive point, it had to be the portrayal of the neighborhood
spies and their introduction into the plot. As Darrell, Jon Hamm brings the
well played demeanor of Tim Jones. His voluptuous but deadly wife Natalie (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) reprises the similar role she
played as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman. This I thought at least gave the action merit.

Lastly
there was the ending which I will admit I enjoyed, but didn’t happen soon
enough. When the Joneses identity is also discovered by foreign powers, through
a twist of fate, they team up with the Gaffney’s and wild action scenes
involving chases, bullets flying and explosions ensue. What follows however is
stereotypical and therefore predictable.

Friday, October 21, 2016

The word is out that this production is
Bourne like. Well, forget about what is being said, sit back and enjoy the ride.
While there are some similarities, including at one point, when Ben Affleck said,
“we should go,” it really ends there. Unlike Bourne, the action sequences are
not as frequent. However, that works for the plot here. What action there was,
I considered just as intense in comparison. As for Affleck’s character being
autistic I felt it had no bearing on the plot other than an explanation for his
special abilities. It would have worked just as well without it.

The cast does include two Oscar winners:
Ben Affleck
and J.K. Simmons;
and two Oscar nominees: Anna Kendrick
and John Lithgow.
Affleck is Christian Wolff, a mathematic scholar who prefers numbers rather
than people. No one seems to know who he is, except for being a high profile
freelance accountant. His major clients are less than law abiding and as
expected eventually draws the attention of the Treasury Department's Crime
Enforcement Division headed up by Ray King (J.K.Simmons). Probably most
recognized from his Farmers Insurance commercials, I kept waiting for him to
say “we covered it.” In a way he did. I thought his brash character set the
right tone for moving things along.

Portland, Maine, born Anna Kendrick, who
was impressive as Cinderella in 2015s Into
the Woods, adds a bit of mystery to the mix. Interestingly, Kendrick based
her character on her mother, a real accountant who went over the script,
explaining the math to her. Her film relationship with Affleck is professional
as is the interpretation of her character.

The plot, while slow moving at times,
does thicken when a legitimate client (John Lithgow) enlists the help of
Affleck to straighten out discrepancies’involving millions of dollars in the books of Lithgow’s high tech
robotics company. In doing so, related and unrelated secrets are uncovered and bodies
begin to pile up.

Director Gavin O’Connor (Jane Got a Gun-2016) did well in getting the gist
of the plot across although it could have been achieved with less flash back.
Writer Bill Dubuque, who wrote the screenplay for 2016s A Headhunters Calling managed
to keep me interested in The Assassin, but not on the edge of my seat;
something I expected from this caliber of players and story line.

Friday, October 14, 2016

This
movie is extremely entertaining, offering a plot with a multitude of comedic
situations that are interlocked through the clever use of animation. You see,
Rafe has an active imagination and combined with his ability to draw, his
renderings come to life. Albeit in his own mind, these manifestations are
timely introduced. Accentuating the predicaments, he endlessly finds himself in
trouble as a result of numerous rules bound in a book the size of a bible and
Dictator Principal Dwight (Andrew Daly) to enforce them. When Dwight destroys
Rafe’s sketchbook because it’s in violation of one of the rules, it’s the last
straw.

As
Rafe, Griffin Gluck (Just before I Go- 2014)
lends credence to the adage that middle school can be challenging, especially
when you have a problem with authority. When both opposing forces collide, his
sister Georgia, Alexa Nisenson (Constantine
-2015) steps in to bring the balance he needs to set things right. Nisenson
is brilliant portraying a little rebel, yet offering the viewer a look at being
that supportive force with an added touch of sensitivity that will melt your
heart.

With
best friend Leo (Thomas Babusco) a plan develops to break every rule in the
book. Chaos ensues from the catalyst of Rafe’s imagination, and much to the
approval of classmates reduces Dwight to a frazzle.

Isabela
Monerplays Jeanne, an audio visual
student and overachieving girl whom Rafe can only dream about. Their chemistry
is precisely presented with what would be expected for that age group. The
dialog is fluid as well as the actions.

Meanwhile,
at home, Rafe’s mother’s boyfriend considers Rafe an obstacle, a threat and
most of all a loser. Rob Riggle (My Big
Fat Greek Wedding2 -2016) is
Bear, that boyfriend. His character is one you love to hate and I had no
difficulty with this.

The
rest of the cast filled in any gaps leaving me with the feeling of being there
and restoring my own memories of those years. After all, isn’t that what a good
film is supposed to do?

Director
Steve Carr, his first direction since his 2012’s Movie 43 manages to keep the tumultuous situations going without missing
a beat. Chris Bowman writer of Napoleon
Dynamite and most recently Masterminds
teamed up with Hubbel Palmer, who is also credited in Masterminds, to complete the era teleportation.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Ransom
Riggs may have written the book on which this movie is based, but Director Tim
Burton writes the book when it comes to imagination. In this, his 39th
feature film, Burton manages to combine elements from a few of those other
films he is known for. The movie goers need not look for them as they should be
obvious. Does this work? Absolutely!

The
main protagonist is Jake, a 16-year-old whom through a series of circumstances
uncovers clues to a mystery that takes him away from an ordinary life and
propels him to alternate realities and times. It is here the discovery and
purpose of Miss Peregrines Home for
Peculiar Children comes to light. Ara Butterfield (Enders Game and a Brilliant Mind) is Jake. Most of the time he
possess the “deer in the headlights” look, however this gives credence to his
existence and performance.

Eva
Green, whom may be recognized as Artemisia from 300: Rise of an Empire, is Miss Peregrine. It is no coincidence her
name is synonymous with the attributes of the peregrine falcon which she can
turn into at will. Greens performance in providing stern but loving care over
the children is accomplished often with just a facial expression which becomes emotionally
believable.

Samuel
Jackson (The Legend of Tarzan) is Mr.
Baron the leader of a group of monsters called the Wights. These immortals,
with their enhanced physical attributes, hunt and kill peculiars. As far as
Jackson’s performance, while it can be considered stereo-typical, it does show
a new side to his ability of convincing fans he still has what it takes.

Rounding
out the cast is Ella Purnell who played the teenage Maleficent (2014). As
Emma, the oldest member of the peculiars, Purnell again demonstrates her acting
ability.

The
screenplay was written by Jane Goldman (Kingsman:The
Secret Service-2104) did well in adapting this to the silver screen. Her
successful association with like films in a capacity that also included that of
the producer is evident.

Reviews
have not been favorable for this film but that, in my opinion, is due in part
largely because most of them are too busy focusing on meaningless details the
average movie goers either miss or don’t care about to begin with. That said, I
enjoyed being taken on another one of Burton’s rides.